There was jubilation in the air in Puttaparthi, hitherto known for Sri Sathya Sai Baba’s Ashram at Prashanti Nilayam, as it is all set to become the district headquarters from Monday.
The Collector’s office of the new Sri Sathya Sai district will be inaugurated with the simultaneous launch of the new districts by Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday.
However, the reorganisation of districts triggered protests in Hindupur where people led by the Akshilapaksha Committee has planned ‘Black Flag’ rally on Monday as the town did not get the district headquarters status. The committee had approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court, but it refused to stall the process.
P. Basant Kumar, a 2007 batch IAS officer, will assume office of the Collector here on Monday along with the 2017 batch IAS officer and current Nellore Municipal Commissioner K. Dinesh Kumar as the Joint Collector.
Puttaparthi MLA Duddukunta Sreedhar Reddy said it was the fulfillment of a long-cherished dream of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and the people of the region and thanked Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Undivided Anantapur was the largest district area wise in the undivided Andhra Pradesh. It was enjoying the status of the seventh largest district in India. With the carving out of Sri Sathya Sai district, it has lost the prestigious place now.
The new district will have a geographical area of 8925.65 square km when compared to 10204.35 square km of residual Anantapur district. Of the total population of 40.81 lakh in the undivided Anantapur district, the new district will have 18.41 lakh. Anantapur district will now have seven Assembly constituencies and a part of Rapthadu constituency from Hindupur Parliamentary constituency.
The Sri Sathya Sai district will have four revenue divisions, while Anantapur will have three. Kadiri, Penukonda, Puttaparthi, and Dharmavaram will be the revenue divisions in the new district, while Anantapur, Guntakal, and Kalyandurg will be the three divisions in Anantapur district.
Guntakal and Puttaparthi revenue divisions have been created. However, of the 63 revenue mandals, the new district has got 32 while the residual Anantapur district will retain 31 mandals.
